To ask you to define modern feminisim?

[Cocoflower]

There is much talk on MN about modern feminisim.

Its not been something I have ever given much thought about until now.

So can I ask;what exactly is and isn't modern feminisim?

It isn't feeling you have to conform to what a man wants, in order to make your BF or DH happy.

It is being yourself, with a valid and educated opinion of the world.

But if there is any part of you that might at times want to conform to what a man wants would this be ok?

It is a political movement aimed at achieving equality for women.

It isn't that different from the feminism of the 70s or even earlier: a lot of the same themes are persisting, despite claims that we now have equality.

being yourself I think speaks for itself - occasionally I like my DH to take control and give me a darn good seeing to . I like to think that this is perfectly acceptable.

On a less flippant note, I think as long as you are not pretending to be someone or something you don't feel comfortable with - it's OK.

I think it's the same as old fashioned feminism actually: a movement to agitate for the recognition of women as full human beings, whose lives, concerns and outcomes matter as much as those of men.

And no, I don't think YABU to ask for a definition...

I think Sybil defines it well.

There are different types of feminism but that is the central point.

Feminism is the belief that women as a group should have social, economic and political rights and opportunities that are equal to those of men as a group.

Within the UK, typical feminist issues would be the high number of women living in poverty, health care provision for women and the treatment of victims of domestic violence.

In terms of global issues, major issues are sex trafficking, poverty and violence against women, especially that sanctioned by the state.

One of the major Amnesty International campaigns is about violence against women.

It isn't really about freedom to be yourself, choice or freedom to express an opinion. That is more about libertarianism, although there are feminist libertarians, but such issues are often not at the top of the list of concerns that feminists get involved in.

Sorry if this is an Xpost.

And HerBex's definition. Xposted.

And no, YANBU. There's a whole board that discusses the differences.

But how about simple things like a man holding a door open for you- DH considers this polite and gentlemanly but stopped doing this now after a woman was said how "dare you think as a woman I cant open a door myself".

Is this part of feminism?

I know where Diabolo is coming from though: what she is describing is how that equality might play out at a personal level.

so while for me feminism is much more than conforming or not conforming to what your dp wants, that is certainly part of it.

Who the fuck are all of these women who get mardy over door opening by men? They crop up these kind of threads all the time.

I think it's just one who gets around a bit.

It really did happen AyeRobot!

I guess this types of incidences make people wonder is this what feminisim is hence why I was intrested to get proper,educated answers from well informed posters.

we should all go around being polite and holding doors open for each other

Some of the old chivalrous bits of politeness have their origins in sexism, and the idea that women are weak and have to be protected. So it would be nice to move on from that to a situation where we all go round being generally thoughtful about door-holding no matter what the sex is of the people involved. But in practice if some nice bloke is doing it to be polite it is a bit harsh to have a go at him....

I've decided I'm a rubbish feminist!

I like men (some of, anyway). I like good manners. I like sex. I like good sex. I don't feel inadequate. I don't feel opressed. I'm actually very happy.

Goodbye thread.

When did it happen? Who was the woman? What was her diagnosis?

I tend to think she is an urban myth as well tbh. Are you sure your DH didn't just invent her to pursue an argument?

???????

x-posted, my ?????? was in response to Diabolo.

no-one has said feminists don't like men or sex or manners! And where on earth did the thing about being inadequate come from?

I guess it depends whether the door-opening is accompanied by a cloak-laying type gesture. That would piss me off, I have to say. But otherwise, I am an equal-opps door-opener/openee.

Oh, diabolo. Don't hide the thread. You might learn that feminists like manners and sex too.

Poor DH it really happened.
The only argument would be from me is when he doesn't hold the door open for me!